Abstract: A liquid crystal display element comprises a polarization plates, phase difference plates, a liquid crystal layer, and selectively reflective layers for reflecting part or whole of circularly polarized light in a specific direction. The products of the respective thicknesses of the polarization plate, phase difference plate, liquid crystal layer, and selectively reflective layer and the difference between an average refractive index in a direction perpendicular to each display plane and an average refractive index in a direction parallel to the display plane are set so that the absolute value of their sum total is 50 nm or less. Each selectively reflective layer is formed of a layer having positive refractive index anisotropy and a layer having negative refractive index anisotropy.

Abstract: A polarized light reflecting element includes a plurality of stacked cholesteric liquid crystal layers. Each cholesteric liquid crystal layer is polymerized and has a helical liquid crystal molecule array and a helical axis that extends substantially in the normal direction. The in-plane mean value &agr; of the respective helix angles of liquid crystal molecules is nearly n&pgr; (n=1, 2, 3, . . . ). The cholesteric liquid crystal layers have their liquid crystal molecules continuously oriented on the interfaces between them, and form one smooth helical structure as a whole.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display element includes a polarization plate, a liquid crystal layer provided in the rear of the polarization plate, for modulating incident light in correspondence with an applied voltage, a selectively reflective layer provided behind the liquid crystal layer, for reflecting a first circular polarization component of incident light, and a back light source arranged in the rear of the selectively reflective layer, for emitting light having intensity peaks for a plurality of predetermined wavelengths. The selectively reflective layer has first reflection factors to the first polarization components of incident light falling within first small regions of visible light, including the plurality of predetermined wavelengths, and has second reflection factors to the first polarization components of incident light falling within second small regions of visible light, not including the plurality of predetermined wavelengths.

Abstract: A polarized light reflecting element includes a plurality of stacked cholesteric liquid crystal layers. Each cholesteric liquid crystal layer is polymerized and has a helical liquid crystal molecule array and a helical axis that extends substantially in the normal direction. The in-plane mean value &agr; of the respective helix angles of liquid crystal molecules is nearly n&pgr; (n=1, 2, 3, . . . ). The cholesteric liquid crystal layers have their liquid crystal molecules continuously oriented on the interfaces between them, and form one smooth helical structure as a whole.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display element comprises a polarization plates, phase difference plates, a liquid crystal layer, and selectively reflective layers for reflecting part or whole of circularly polarized light in a specific direction. The products of the respective thicknesses of the polarization plate, phase difference plate, liquid crystal layer, and selectively reflective layer and the difference between an average refractive index in a direction perpendicular to each display plane and an average refractive index in a direction parallel to the display plane are set so that the absolute value of their sum total is 50 nm or less. Each selectively reflective layer is formed of a layer having positive refractive index anisotropy and a layer having negative refractive index anisotropy.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display element includes a polarization plate, a liquid crystal layer provided in the rear of the polarization plate, for modulating incident light in correspondence with an applied voltage, a selectively reflective layer provided behind the liquid crystal layer, for reflecting a first circular polarization component of incident light, and a back light source arranged in the rear of the selectively reflective layer, for emitting light having intensity peaks for a plurality of predetermined wavelengths. The selectively reflective layer has first reflection factors to the first polarization components of incident light falling within first small regions of visible light, including the plurality of predetermined wavelengths, and has second reflection factors to the first polarization components of incident light falling within second small regions of visible light, not including the plurality of predetermined wavelengths.